Privacy of public figures

Interviewing a person in deep pain is one of the most harrowing experiences an interviewer can go through. Yes, there are times when I challenge the job that I do, which is fundamentally asking questions because people have the right to know about people and matters that are public and of public interest.

I have always said that when one becomes a public figure everything about him becomes public. But what about his right to privacy? I will not attempt to answer this in its legal context because I am not equipped. But as one who is familiar with the celebrity business, as an observer, as a manager of public figures, and as student of social development, privacy of a public figure is totally different from the privacy of a private person.

My thinking is everything about a public figure is public. What he thinks is private to him, he must doggedly ensure its invisibility. Like making sure that not even the spirits of the Balete trees in Balete Drive see whatever that is that he wants private. But when a public figure goes to church, which to him is private time with family, does not make him private. He is still a public figure going to church. So if he faints because of the scorching heat of summer, or he screams at the priest doing a homily on unfaithful men going to hell, he must expect to be in the news and cannot invoke his private moment with his family as shield from public scrutiny. Because surely, he will either be praised or vilified by a public that is almost always fascinated if not obsessed by celebrities.

You cannot say to a fan at the churchyard, “No, I can’t have my photo taken with you because I am a private person right now.” Public figures must realize the gargantuan responsibility of being public. And the funny thing is, even when a public figure ceases to practice what made him public, his being public does not stop. This is the reason why we see headlines like “Former actor commits suicide” or “Former cabinet secretary goes to jail.”

Another painful reality about public figures is when their names are dragged into the headlines not because of them but by their relationship or association with people: “Maid of movie star steals P10M” or “Relative of senator caught selling drugs.” Should all this be challenged? Should this change? Let the conversation rage on.

Let’s talk about Janelle Manahan, a young fledgling actress who joined ABS-CBN’s talent search Star Circle Quest (SCQ), where she emerged among the Top 6. She temporarily quit showbiz because according to her, Ramgen made her choose between him and showbiz. She chose Ramgen without regret. But she pursued her studies at the De La Salle College of St. Benilde where she is now taking up Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Major in Export Management.

So in that interview I did with Janelle for The Bottomline, I was in pure agony, not because I had no courage to ask her the difficult questions, but I was afraid that by doing so, I could be exacerbating her suffering. But Janelle has a story to tell. A sex video had just surreptitiously appeared on the Net. And there were other questions that continue to nag people’s minds.

The case she’s involved in has been in the news for weeks. And so much has been said. But Janelle was there inside Ramgen’s room where the crime happened. She is a victim. She was shot twice, one in the face, the other in her shoulder. Her voice remains vital in this controversial case.

Accompanied by her mother and her young, smart lawyer Argee Guevarra, she came to The Bottomline and decided to take off the shades that shielded her eyes and her swollen face for many weeks.

And what a brave girl Janelle is! You ask her a question, without flinching, without missing a beat, she would shoot back her answers. Never for a moment did she hesitate. The tears flowed like torrential rains, the words exploded like bombs.

“Were you a battered girlfriend?” “Yes.”

“Why did you stay in the relationship?” “Because I was hoping he’d change. And he did.”

“Is there another sex video?” “Yes. But I hope it doesn’t come out because it will not help anyone.”

“Do you regret having been part of that video?” “No. I love Ramgen so much.”

“When you look at the mirror, do you still ask yourself, am I beautiful?” “I don’t say, am I, I say, I am beautiful.”

I pray that in my heart, justice be served to the guilty ones in the attempted murder on Janelle and in the murder of Ramgen. I also know in my heart that Janelle will rebuild her life and move on to a better place sometime, somewhere. The pain of loving Ramgen will always be there. But somehow she’d get used to it. One day when we all look back, we’ll say she was that girl who stood by her man in life and in death.

Janelle is a brave young girl who will not stop until the guilty are brought to justice. Then and only then will she have peace, she said. She is confident Ramgen will help her. How? I asked. “He promised me that we will never leave each other.”

Yes, even in death Ramgen has not left her. And he will always be in her heart.